What was Ezekiel’s vision of the wheels?

In Ezekiel 1, the book opens with a dazzling vision of living creatures, “wheels within wheels,” and the glory of God. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains what this strange vision reveals about God.

By a river in exile, the priest Ezekiel sees four living creatures and gleaming wheels full of eyes, with the glory of the Lord enthroned above. Dr. Holt explains the meaning: the wheels that can move in any direction picture God’s presence everywhere — proof that God was with His people even in Babylon, not confined to the temple. The eyes picture His all-seeing knowledge. And it is God who comes to Ezekiel, not the other way around — a God who pursues His people, even in exile.

Questions this study answers:

1. What does the chariot-like vision signify? God’s majestic, mobile presence. He is not tied to one place but reigns over all the earth.

2. What did the wheels and eyes represent? The wheels picture God’s presence everywhere; the eyes picture His complete knowledge. He is everywhere and sees everything.

3. What does this teach us about God? That He is present even in our exile and hardship, all-knowing and all-powerful — and that He comes to seek His people.

“Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” — Ezekiel 1:28 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Ezekiel Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why did God tell Ezekiel to eat a scroll?

In Ezekiel 2:1 through 3:15, God commissions the prophet by handing him a scroll — and telling him to eat it. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains this strange command and what it teaches about God’s Word.

God calls Ezekiel to preach to a stubborn, rebellious people who likely will not listen. He gives him a scroll filled with “lamentations and mourning and woe,” and commands him to eat it — to take God’s Word fully into himself before speaking it. Amazingly, the scroll tastes sweet as honey. God promises no easy success; instead He makes Ezekiel’s forehead “harder than flint” to stand firm. Dr. Holt shows how Ezekiel, repeatedly called “son of man,” foreshadows Christ — sent to His own people, and rejected.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God tell Ezekiel to eat the scroll? To picture taking God’s Word deep within himself before proclaiming it. A true messenger must first internalize the message.

2. Why did the scroll of “woe” taste sweet? Because God’s Word, even when it warns of judgment, is good and life-giving. Its truth is sweet to those who receive it.

3. How is Ezekiel like Christ? Both are called “son of man” and sent to God’s own rebellious people. Ezekiel’s hard calling foreshadows the Savior who would also be rejected.

“Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” — Ezekiel 3:1 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Ezekiel Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

What is a spiritual watchman?

In Ezekiel 3:16-21, God appoints the prophet as a “watchman” for His people. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains the watchman’s solemn duty — and what it means for us.

A watchman had two jobs: to watch and to warn. If he saw danger coming and stayed silent, the people’s blood would be on his hands. God tells Ezekiel the danger is not a foreign army but God’s own judgment on sin, and he must warn both the wicked and the righteous. Dr. Holt explains that a faithful minister is measured by his faithfulness in speaking the truth, not by how people respond. The same calling to watch and warn falls, in measure, on parents, pastors, and every believer.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was a watchman? A guard who watched for danger and sounded the alarm. To stay silent when danger approached was to fail in his duty.

2. What were the consequences of failing to warn? The watchman shared the guilt; the people’s “blood” was on his hands. Faithfulness required speaking up.

3. How does this apply to us? Each of us is called to warn and care for others with the truth. We are responsible to be faithful, even when people will not listen.

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” — Ezekiel 3:17 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Ezekiel Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.